Articulated car



J. CHRISTIANSEN ARTICULATED CAR Jan. 17, 14933,

Filed Jan. l2, 1931 Patented Jan. 17, 1933 UNT STTES PATENT OFFICE JOHN CHRISTIANSEN, GF RIDGEWGOI), NEVI' JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAR .AND FOUNDBY COMPANY, OF NEW YGRK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY ARTCULATED CAR Application filed January 12, 1931.

This invention relates to articulated cars and has particular reference to means for supporting a foot plate and vestibule unit between the adjacent end portions of two car bodies.

vision of an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies having a` combined vestibule and foot plate construction supported by a truck beneath the adjacent end portions of` the car bodies; said construction being retained stationary with respect to the truck whereby the bodies swivel horizontally relative thereto.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a combined foot plate and vess tibule unit interposed between the adjacent end portions of two car bodies and supported primarily by part of a single truck arranged beneath. said adjacent portions, the combined foot plate and vestibule unit lapping the ad- 3 jacent end portions of the car bodies and receiving a portion of its support therefrom, the construction being such that the combined foot plateY and vestibule unit is retained stationary with respect to the truck, but is supported in such a manner that swiveling of the bodies in a horizontal plane relative to said unit may take place.

@ther objects of this invention will be' apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure l is top plan view showing parts of the adjacent end portions of two car bodies, articulated together, certain parts thereof being broken away,

erial No. 508,060.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the parts shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a. detailed sectional view showing the resilient means for supporting the foot plate, y

Fig. a is a sectional view on the line 4 4, Fig. l,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the roller bearing member for supporting foot plate.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the adjacent end portions of two car bodies are shown more or less diagrammatically in Fig. l, and are indicated at A and B, respectively. The adjacent end portions of the bodies are supported for relative horizontal swiveling movements by a single truck of any desired construction, having a bolster indicated generally at C and which, in the present instance is shown as comprising a pair of similar but oppositely disposed sections 2. The bolster construction shown in the drawing is substantially identical with that shown in the before mentioned patent to Ostrander, et al., but it is to be understood that this is merely by way of example as obviously other forms of bolsters may be employed if desired. The bolster sections are substantially channel-shaped in cross section at their centers and their webs are arranged substantially together and are each provided with longitudinal recesses 4 which, when the bolster sections are assembled as shown in Fig. 2, define a substantially cylindrical opening. Substantially midway between the ends of the bolster sections the upper surfaces thereof are arcuate in shape as at 8 and the arcuate sections support a truck center plate l0 having depending flanges 12, which engage with flanges 14 depending from the arcuate portions 8. It will be obvious that in a bolster formed of a single piece of material the upper surface thereof. midway between the ends, would be provided with a. substantially circular portion and that the bolster could be provided with a longitudinal opening which would correspond in all respects to the opening defined by the mating depressions l of the bolster shown in the drawing.

The center plate l0 is provided with an upwardly extending inner guide lflange 15, circular in shape and surrounding an opening 16 formed in the center plate and arranged concentrically with respect thereto. The center plate is further provided with a marginal flange 18 as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The truck center plate 10 receives a body center casting 20 formed as a part of an inner casting 22 arranged in and secured to a retainer casting 24 secured to the center sills 26 of car body A. For connecting the casting 22 to the retainer casting 24 a pin 28 is employed. It will be apparent that the coinbined castings 22 and 24 define a body center casting.

As shown clearly in F ig. 2 the bearing surface of the center bearing 20 is dished or concaved as at 29 and is provided with a central aperture 30 through which the guide flange 14 projects; said flange 14 serving to restrain the center bearing 20 against excessive horizontal shifting in the truck center plate.

The center bearing 20 supports a` filler block 32 having a lower bearing surface 34 which is complemental to the concaved bearing surface of the center bearing, and said bearing block is preferably hollow and proA vided with an internal circular iange 36 formed around an opening in the filler block, which flange is arranged around the guide flange 14 for an obvious purpose. The bearing block is formed with a convex or upper bearing surface 38 and support-s a center bearing 40 formed at one end of an inner center casting 42 secured to the retainer casting 24 of car body B by lneans of a pin 28.

The center bearing 40 includes a concaved bearing surface 44 which conforms to the convexity of the head 38 of the filler block, and an internal apcrtured web 46. The openings in the center bearings and filler block aline with the opening in th-e truck center plate and bolster and receive a king pin 48 having a head 51 resting upon the web 46 to be supported thereby. The upper end of the pin 48 is of sizable dimensions to serve as a buting element for transmitting buiiing shocks from one car body to the other. The king pin 48 is retained against vertical displacement by means of a key 49, and it will be apparent that due to the connection of the pin with the bolster by means of the key, the two center bearings and filler block are retained in assembled relation.

The center bearing 4() includes a head 50 which is rounded and is provided with a central aperture, the purpose of which will be herein after described.

The invention includes the supporting of a foot plate so as to permit passage from one car body to the other. ln the present instance the articulated joint is adapted to support both the foot plate and a vestibule member; said foot plate and vestibule member being connected to form a unit, and as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the foot plate 52 which is circular, as shown in Fig. 1, has a supporting element 54 secured to its under surface at substantially the center' of the plate; the member 54 being annular and having a concaved bearing surface conforming to the contour of the head 50 and supported by the latter. The element 54 constitutes a bearing member and is provided with an internal annular shoulder 56 which supports a retainer pin 58 extending through the head 50 and covering the handle portion 59 of the pin 48 and serving to retain the foot plate 52 in position on the head 50. To permit insertion or removal of the pin 48, the foot plate 52 is provided with a substantially central removable section 60.

The foot plate, it will be obvious, is supported primarily by the truck bolster and specifically by head 50 of the center bearing 40. In addition to the support just described it has'been found desirable to support the foot plate 52 at its marginal edge in such a manner as to permit horizontal swiveling of the adjacent end portions of the bodies relative thereto and to that end an angle 62 isl secured to the under surface of the foot plate 52 adjacent the marginal edge of the latter. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the angle is so arranged that one leg thereof is vertically arranged to constitute a track 64 which is adapted to rest upon rollers 66 supported in bearings 68, which latter are resiliently mounted by springs 70 arranged in spring retainers'i' 2 formed as parts of roller bearing supports 7 4. As shown clearly in Fig. 1, the foot plate is suported at spaced intervals by the rollers, and the roller bearing supports are secured to the adjacent end portions of the car bodies on each side of the center sills. It will be apparent that while the foot plate is rigidly supported at its center, the car bodies are free to shift relative to the foot plate in accordance with variations in track structure because of the resiliently mounted rollers or roller bearings 66. In order to prevent rota tion of the foot plate 52 relative to the adjacent car bodies, any suitable or desired means may be provided. From the construction just described, it will be apparent that the bodies may swivel horizontally independently of each other and such swiveling will be relative to the foot plate.

The end walls of the bodies are provided with curved surfaces 7 6 which extend inwardly toward openings in the end portions of the bodies; the curved portions 7 6 extending approximately to the doorways formed in the ends of the bodies, and said curved portions are provided at their free ends with flanges 7 7 which may define parts ofthe door frames if desired. The curved portions 76, in effect, define longitudinal recesses in the end walls of the car bodies, and serve to retain the vestibule unit indicated generally at 78.

curved to correspond to the curvature of the portions 76 of the body end walls. The side walls 8O terminate at convenient points to leave openings or doorways through which passengers may go from one body to the other. The side walls of the vestibule unit 78 have their side edges olset as at 82 to define a space between the oiiset portions and the curved portions 76 of the end walls to retain suitable weather stripping 84. To stiften the side edges of the side walls of the vestibule unit, the side edges, at the oil'setportions, are folded upon themselves as clearly shown in Fig. l.

VThe vestibule unit is carried by the foot plate, and as shown in F ig. 4, angles 86 are employedl which are connected to the vestibule unit and foot. plate in any suitable or desired manner. Being secured to the foot plate the vestibule unit is fixed relative thereto and the bodies A'and B swivel relative to the unit, the latter having its side walls lapping the curved portions 76. of the ends of the bodies to an extent suiicient to maintain the partsin proper assembled relation and to permit free swiveling of the ybodies relative to the vestibule unit Without obstructing the doorways formed inthe ends of the car bodies.

VFromrthe above description it is believed f` that it will be apparent to those skilled in A the` art that a unitary construction has been provided which includes a vestibule unit and a foot plate, the construction being primarily supported by the truck bolster and being maintained iixed relative thereto. It is also believed apparent that they construction .described permits swiveling of the bodies inde pendentlyof` .each other and relative vtothe combined foot plateand vestibule construe tion.- It is also obvious that the bodies are reeto move `to conform to inequalities in track grades though preserving the original and desired relative positions or" the combinedfoot plate and vestibule unit and the car bodies. i

The drawing illustrates one embodiment of the. invention, but it is to be understood that they arev for illustrative purposes only and various changes in the form and proportions 'A of the construction shown may be made withfoot .plate mounted on and supported by the second body centerbearing.

2. In a .car construction, a truck center bearing, a body center bearing mounted in the truclrcenter bearing, a liller block in said body center bearing, a second body center bearing supported by the filler block, and a combined toot plate and vestibule unit mounted on and supported by thesecond body center bearing.

3. In a car construction, a truck center bearing, a body center bearing mounted in the truck center bear-ing,a second body cenf ter bearing arranged above the iirst named body cent-er bearing and alined with the truck center bearing, a vestibule unit, and a foot plate by which the vestibule unit is supported, said footplatebeing loosely mountedon the Vsecond body center bearing.

il. In a car construction, a truck center bearing, a body center bearingmounted in. the truck Center bearing, a second body center bearing arranged above the iirst named body center bearing and vertically aligned with said first-named body center bearing and with said truck center bearing, and a foot plate and vestibule unit supported by the second body center bearing, the foot plate being loosely mounted on the said second body center bearing whereby the latter may swivel in all directions relative to the foot plate.

5. In a car construction, a pair of car` bodies each having an under-trame. provided with spaced longitudinal sills, retainer castings secured to the sills, inner castings mounted in the retainer castings and having center bearings, one thereoi having a head portion, and a foot plate looselymounted on the'head portion and lapping the adjacent end porn tions of the bodies.

6. In a car construction, a pair or' car bodies each having an underframe provided with spaced longitudinal sills, retainer castings. securedto the sills, inner castings telescopie cally arranged in the retainer castings and having center bearings, 'one'thereof having a head portion, a oot plate loosely mounted on the head portion whereby the adjacent body may swivel relative thereto, said foot plate lapping the adjacent end portions of the bodies, and means connecting the foot plate to the head portion to prevent displacement ofthe foot plate.

7. Infan articulated car comprising a plu-A. rality of car-bodies, vertically alined and connected body and truck center bearings for supporting the adjacent end portions of the bodies, and a combined foot plate and vestibule unit supported by said center bearings.

8. In an articulated car comprising a plurality oiA car bodies, vertically alined and connectedbody and truck center bearings, a

toot plate supportedV by thebearings and` 'lapping the adjacent end portions of said bodies, and bearing elements carried by the bodies on which said foot plate rests.

9. AIn an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies, a vestibule unit iitted into the adjacent end portions of said bodies, vertically alined and connected body and truck center bearings for supporting the adjacent end portions of the bodies, and a foot plate supported by one of the body bearings and to which the vertibule unit is secured.

10. In an articulated car, a plurality of car bodies, a foot plate bridging the space between the vadjacent end portions of said bodies, a track member depending from the foot plate, and resiliently mounted roller bearing elements on the adjacent end portions of the bodies for cooperation with said track member to support the foot plate.

11. In an articulated car comprising a plurality of car bodies, means for supporting a foot plate between the adjacent end portions of the bodies comprising a body center bearin secured to the end portion of one of the bo ies and provided with a head, a bearing member secured to the foot plate adapted to seat on said head, and means extending -through the bearing member and into thc head to prevent relative sidewise shifting of the foot plate and center bearing.

12. In an articulated car, a pair of car bodies having their adjacent end walls inwardly recessed, a vestibule unit arranged between the adjacent car bodies and fitted into said recesses whereby the bodies may swivel relative thereto, a foot plate to which said vestibule unit is secured, said foot plate lapping the adjacent end portions of said bodies and being provided with a depending track member, and a plurality of resiliently mounted roller bearing elements on the adjacent end portions of the bodies with which the track member engages to support the foot plate, said bearings being horizontally shiftable relative to the foot plate upon shifting of the bodies and being each individually rotatable during such shifting movement.

13. In an articulated car, a pair of car bodies having their adjacent end walls inwardly recessed, a vestibule unit arranged between the adjacent rcar bodies and fitted into said recesses whereby the bodies may swivel relative thereto, vertically alined body and truck center bearings for supporting the adjacent end portions of the bodies, a foot plate to which said vestibule unit is sesecured and by which said unit is supported, said foot plate lapping the adjacent end portions of said bodies and being resiliently supported thereby.

14. In an articulated car, a pair of car bodies having their adjacent end walls inwardly recessed, a vestibule unit arranged between the adjacent car bodies and fitted into said recesses whereby the bodies may swivel relative thereto vertically alined and connected body and truck center bearings for da 'supporting the adjacent end portions of the bodies, afoot plate to which said vestibule unit is secured and by which said unit is supported, said foot plate lapping the adjacent end portions of said bodies and being resiliently supported thereby, and a swivel connection between the foot plate and one of said body bearings for supporting the foot plate at substantially its center.

15. In an articulated car, a pair of car bodies, a combined vestibule unit and foot plate between the adjacent end portions of said bodies and means for supporting said combined vestibule unit and foot plate comprising a body center bearing for one of the bodies on which the foot plate is supported, said bearing being capable of swiveling in substantially all directions with the car body and relative to the foot plate, and resiliently mounted bearing elements on the adjacent end portions of said bodies on which the foot plate rests. f

16. In an articulated car comprising a pair of car bodies, means for permitting passage from one body to the other comprising a vestibule unit, a foot plate to which the unit is secured, and a stiffening angle secured to the foot plate adjacent its marginal edge and having one leg thereof vertically arranged to define a track member.

17. In an articulated car comprising a pair of car bodies, means for permitting passa e from one body to the other comprising a suistantially U-shaped vestibule unit, a foot plate iapping the adjacent end portions csaid bodies and to which the vestibule unit is secured whereby said unit is supported, a track member depending from the foot plate adjacent its marginal edge, and a bearing member secured to the under surface of the foot plate at substantially the center thereof.

18. In an articulated car, a pair of car bodies, a vestibuleunit arranged between and fitted into the adjacent end walls of said bodies, vertically alined and connected body and truck center bearings for supporting the adjacent end portions of the bodies, a foot plate arranged between the adjacent end portions of the bodies, means connecting the foot plate and vestibule unit whereby swiveling movement of the bodies is relative to said foot plate, and a bearing element on the foot plate engaging one of the body center bearings for supporting the foot plate at substantially its center.

19. In an articulated car, a pair of car bodies having their adjacent end walls recessed, a vestibule unit arranged between the bodies and fitted into the recesses in the end walls, a foot plate secured to the vestibule unit and extending over the adjacent end portions of the said bodies, a track member secured to the foot plate, and individually rotatable bearing elements resiliently mounted on the adjacent end portions of the bodies with which the track member engages.

20. In an articulated car, a pair of ear bodies having the adjacent end Walls recessed, a vestibule unit arranged between the bodies and iitted into the recesses in the end Walls, a foot plate secured to the vestibule unit and extending over the adjacent end portions of the said bodies, a siii'ening angle secured to the foot plate and having one leg thereof depending vertically from said foot plate to define a track member, and resiliently mounted bearing elements on the adjacent end portions of the bodies With which the track member engages.

2.1. In an articulated car, a pair of car bodies, body and truck center bearings for supporting the adjacent end portions of said bodies, one of said body center bearings being provided With a conveXed head, a foot plate bridging the space between the end p0rtions of said bodies, roller bearing means on the adjacent end portions ofthe bodies for supporting the foot plate adjacent its marginal edge, a bearing element secured to the foot plate and provided with a concaved bearing surface resting on the conveXed head of the body bearing for supporting the foot plate at substantially the center of swiveling movement of the bodies, and means for retaining the foot plate in position on the supporting head.

22. In a car construction, a truck center bearing, a body center bearing mounted in the truck center bearing, a i'iller block mounted in said body center bearing, a second body center bearing mounted on the filler block and having an internal Web and a eonvexed head portion, said convexed head portion deiining a support adapted to position a foot plate, and a king pin securing said center bearings and Eller block together, said king pin being supported by the Web.

h Ir Witness whereof I have hereunto set my JOHN OHRISTIANSEN. 

